The Techno Crayon / American Gangster / ROzbeans 18 years ago

American Gangster

Starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe

Be prepared - this is a 3 hr long movie, but I have to say that it didn't feel like it and is worth seeing. It doesn't have one of those Departed Fucked UP endings, it's more of a documentary almost. The life and times of Frank Lucas.

The movie had a lot of powerful scenes from Denzel, as expected. Russell Crow does a great job as a Jersey do gooder cop who fucks himself early on by turning in a million bucks he and his partner find in the trunk of a car. Apparently turning it in was worse than keeping it. Who can trust a cop that does the right thing?

There are a lot of cameos in the movie - Cuba Gooding Jr, Armand Asante. Both Denzel and Russell are amazing. Probably the most powerful scene in the movie is the one they show in the previews - where Frank gets up, crosses the street, shoots a man and then walks back to sit in a diner with his brothers. The look on his brother's faces through the entire scene is insanely believable and how ruthless Frank Lucas, one time driver, protector and collecter for his boss establishes himself as the #1 motherfucker in Harlem is definitely Oscar worthy.

Good stuff. :thumbsup

Den 18 years ago

I agree, I really liked this movie (saw it opening weekend). I almost always enjoy biographies, as well as anything DW is in. RC was very good too, I'm just not as big a fan of his.

ROzbeans 18 years ago

I don't like Russell Crowe as a general rule either - at least I think his RL personality is shit. However, he is an amazing actor. I'll watch anything with Denzel Washington. You know he's going to get an Oscar nod, if not win out of this - it's only when he plays bad guys. I was rooting for him through out this though - he's very much the anti-hero.

Den 18 years ago

lol - sorry Roz, a guy who kills people isn't someone I'd call any kind of hero

ROzbeans 18 years ago

That's why he's an 'anti' hero. I'm not saying he should be carried on the shoulders of everyone in Harlem - but as far as the archetype goes - he's the anti-hero because what he was trying to do - unite black harlem and keep control, albeit of the drug trade, out of the corrupt cops hands. Yes he was a killer and yes he killed more people than helped - still, it's like cheering for the vampires or the werewolves - the lesser of two evils.

Den 18 years ago

Vampires and werewolves are mythical...this guy was real. No matter how you present it, he was a bad man, who did what he did, by whatever means, to live the life he wanted.
He did do his time though.

ROzbeans 18 years ago

Anyway...

Aside from Russell Crowe being less than an interesting guy in real life - I really did like his character. Josh Brolin's character - it's funny seeing him and realizing his father is married to Barbara Streisand. His character was the typical corrupt cop - I liked his exchange with Russell Crowe's about calling before crossing over the bridge. I especially liked it when Crowe's character had the chance to say it back.